PI3
PI3 (peptidase inhibitor 3), also known as elafin, SKALP, ESI, WAP3, WFDC14 and cementoin, is a secreted elastase-specific inhibitor of skin. It also acts as an antimicrobial peptide and carries a WAP-type four-disulfide core domain. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PI3 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PI3, widely known as elafin, is a neutrophil and pancreatic elastase-specific inhibitor of skin. It may prevent elastase-mediated tissue proteolysis, limiting damage caused by this protease. The gene also encodes an antimicrobial peptide, with activity reported against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and against fungal pathogens.
The PI3 protein is secreted and contains a WAP-type four-disulfide core (WFDC) domain, which places it in the WFDC domain family, the HGNC gene group of WAP four-disulfide core domain containing proteins. Most WFDC genes lie on chromosome 20q12-q13 in two clusters, centromeric and telomeric, and the PI3 gene belongs to the centromeric cluster. Expression of the gene is upregulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and by cytokines.
Beyond protease inhibition, elafin has been shown to inhibit the alpha-4-beta-2 (CHRNA2-CHRNB2) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and to produce weak inhibition of the Kv11.1 (KCNH2/ERG1) channel and of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). The gene has previously been named protease inhibitor 3, skin-derived (SKALP), a name that reflects its skin origin.
Elafin is an elastase-specific inhibitor that may prevent elastase-mediated tissue proteolysis, making it relevant to work on neutrophil and pancreatic elastase.
PI3 functions as an antimicrobial peptide against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungal pathogens.
Expression of the PI3 gene is upregulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and cytokines, linking it to responses to infection and inflammation.
Elafin has been reported to inhibit the alpha-4-beta-2 nicotinic receptor and to weakly inhibit Kv11.1 and TRPV1 channels.
PI3 (elafin) is a secreted, neutrophil and pancreatic elastase-specific inhibitor of skin that may prevent elastase-mediated tissue proteolysis. It also acts as an antimicrobial peptide against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungal pathogens.
PI3 stands for peptidase inhibitor 3 and is also called elafin, ESI, SKALP, WAP3, WFDC14 and cementoin. Earlier names were protease inhibitor 3, skin-derived (SKALP) and peptidase inhibitor 3, skin-derived. UniProt lists the protein name as Elafin.
PI3 contains a WAP-type four-disulfide core (WFDC) domain and belongs to the WFDC domain family. Most WFDC genes sit on chromosome 20q12-q13 in centromeric and telomeric clusters, and PI3 is in the centromeric cluster. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other peptidase inhibitors and related proteins with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P19957; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.